What are the important differences between trading postes and colony? When is it better to build a colony?
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Being a non-beta tester, I'm afraid that I can't provide much of a detailed answer here. However, if you look at yndenwal's recent Venice AAR that was posted yesterday, you'll see a good description of how they work in the game.
I'll attempt to summarize:
I'll attempt to summarize:
- Trading Post: Provides an immediate economic benefit. It has a higher initial chance of success (i.e. surviving), but it doesn't grow over time.
- Colony: A lower chance of initial success, but given time and reinforcements they will grow in population. There are five levels, and after level five, they turn into a permanent province. While more costly, they provide a base of operations for fleets and armies.
Colonies are cities that will eventually grow into full cities when they reach 700 pop (each colonist is worth 100 pop.)
When this size is reached, you can build improvements, troops like in any other city in Europe. Depending on the province's suitability for colonization, the population will grow or decrease (African jungle are not very attractive for EUropean, whereas North AMerican plains are).
On the economics level, these provinces provide you with direct income and increase the value of the COT they belong to.
Trade posts do not grow, they are just here to exploit the resource of the province. They only increase the value of the COT they belong to, therefore trade posts are useful only if you send merchants to the COT. Moreover, trade post never allow for improvements' buildings nor is there a port. Trade posts cannot be fortified and an enemy army can burn it to the ground just like this.
On the other hand, trade posts are easier and cheaper to install (5 gold for a TP versus 50-100 gold for a colony).
When this size is reached, you can build improvements, troops like in any other city in Europe. Depending on the province's suitability for colonization, the population will grow or decrease (African jungle are not very attractive for EUropean, whereas North AMerican plains are).
On the economics level, these provinces provide you with direct income and increase the value of the COT they belong to.
Trade posts do not grow, they are just here to exploit the resource of the province. They only increase the value of the COT they belong to, therefore trade posts are useful only if you send merchants to the COT. Moreover, trade post never allow for improvements' buildings nor is there a port. Trade posts cannot be fortified and an enemy army can burn it to the ground just like this.
On the other hand, trade posts are easier and cheaper to install (5 gold for a TP versus 50-100 gold for a colony).
I didn't realize that there was a ducat cost to set up a trade post or colony also, but it is logical that a full olony costs more than a measly trade post. Do you have to pay for the colonist/trader when they are first available in the home country or after they settle down in the new territory? Also, I'd like bit more detail on how colonies cost between 50 - 100 ducats. Is it that the initial set-up is 50 and then each additional colonist is 10 or is it due to the type of territory to be settled.
They come for free (you have a pool, maximum 6) and you pay when you decide to send them.
Cost of the colony seems to depend on terrain, distance and probably other factors as well...
Cost of the colony seems to depend on terrain, distance and probably other factors as well...
And some territories are very unsuitable for colony, but perfect for trading post (ex: most of Asia, or Hudson bay)
Thanks for the follow up.
Sarges,
Have you been on vacation? It's been a while since I've seen any posts from you - and I have missed your informative insights. When are you going to join your fellow countryman yndenwal in his valiant effort to break the recent Austrialian monopoly on AAR's?
Sarges,
Have you been on vacation? It's been a while since I've seen any posts from you - and I have missed your informative insights. When are you going to join your fellow countryman yndenwal in his valiant effort to break the recent Austrialian monopoly on AAR's?
There has been some long weekend in France.
For an AAR, well it takes some times to do ones, but I will try to write one focused on diplomatic play (I haven't seen much in AAR) this week.
Sarges,
La 'après le rapport d'activité' qui se concentre sur l'activité diplomatiques sera beaucoup d'intéressant. J'attends avec intéret de lire votre histoire.
The preceding two sentances represent significant translation work (for me), but I couldn't help myself as French is the official diplomatic language of the EU timeframe.
La 'après le rapport d'activité' qui se concentre sur l'activité diplomatiques sera beaucoup d'intéressant. J'attends avec intéret de lire votre histoire.
The preceding two sentances represent significant translation work (for me), but I couldn't help myself as French is the official diplomatic language of the EU timeframe.
If anyone else is thinking about writing an AAR, I, for one, would like to see someone play a scenario starting significantly later than 1492. The recent AARs have all used the Grand Campaign and now I'm interested to see how a game of EU would diverge from history at a later point in time.
Do you have any preference concerning the country/date ?
Tell us and I am sure one of us beta-testers will surely abide by your wish...
Tell us and I am sure one of us beta-testers will surely abide by your wish...
No, I'm not that demanding 
. If anyone feels like starting after, say, 1600 and describing events everywhere, that would be great.
. If anyone feels like starting after, say, 1600 and describing events everywhere, that would be great.